Burns drags Bulls back into contention

Joe Burns made an unbeaten 104 to give Queensland a 17-run first innings lead over Tasmania at stumps on day two.

Getty Images: Chris Hyde

Three wickets in four balls by ex-Test seamer Ben Hilfenhaus was always going to be a hard act to follow at the Gabba on Friday.

But Joe Burns stole the show by surviving a hat-trick delivery then capping a remarkable Queensland fightback with an unbeaten 104 in the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania.

At stumps on day two, Burns had helped guide defending champion Bulls to 9 for 262, an unlikely 17-run first-innings lead, after able support from captain James Hopes (72).

Burns lit up the gloomy Gabba conditions in a 138-run seventh-wicket stand with Hopes that turned the match.

Ex-Test seamer Hilfenhaus (3 for 72) earlier had Burns in his sights after his remarkable four-ball burst reduced the Bulls to 3 for 18.

Burns held his nerve to survive the hat-trick ball delivery but was again feeling the pressure as Queensland slumped to 4 for 30, then 5 for 90 and finally 6 for 112.

But by stumps it was Tasmania hoping to reverse its fortunes after a Burns-inspired counter-attack landed the third-placed Bulls precious first-innings points as they looked to stay in the final mix with one more match to play.

In his first game for Queensland since returning from Australia A duty, Burns struck his fifth Shield ton in an epic 273-ball knock that featured eight fours and a six.

"That was the best innings I have played for Queensland considering the context of the game and the difficult conditions," Burns said.

"When you come out in that situation you can't panic."

But that must have been a tempting option after Burns was caught off guard by Hilfenhaus's memorable over.

"I had switched off after fielding and it seemed like three minutes later I was facing Hilfy for the hat-trick ball - I was a bit shocked," he said.

Burns tried to steady the ship in a 60-run fifth wicket stand with Nathan Reardon (39) before all-rounder Evan Gulbis (2 for 50) struck, ensuring Hopes joined Burns at the crease with Queensland still trailing by 133 runs.

After James Faulkner bowled Hopes to finally end their three-hour stand, Luke Butterworth (2 for 50) was on a hat-trick as he tried to mop up the tail late on Friday but Burns remained defiant.

Earlier, Cameron Gannon (2 for 38) needed just nine balls to end the Tigers' first innings after they resumed at 8 for 236.

Tasmania had recovered from 5 for 90 after a Ryan Harris-inspired collapse of 3 for 2 on Thursday to post a competitive first innings total of 245.